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Skin that felt a lot warmer now than it had a few seconds ago. She knew she was blushing. But he was staring at her with those sharp, silver eyes with such tenderness and sadness that she was caught in their sparkling depths. She watched as his compassion threatened to drop the pretense and turn into something far more intimate.

His silver eyes flicked to her lips.

Her face grew even warmer.

Was he going to kiss her?

Why was he hesitating?

Damn it, Maggie, no! Existential crisis!

But he was a raft in the crashing waves. He gave her something to cling to when she felt like she was drowning. She was tempted to throw herself into his arms, just to feel something that wasn’t panic and dread.

He shook his head and, lowering his hand, walked away. “Let me get you some ice water. I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable.”

With a sigh, she leaned against the sofa arm. It was soft. Cozy. There was a big, fluffy blanket folded over the back of the sofa, and it was calling her name. Even in the late spring, the air was still a little chilly. And she had a serious weakness for soft and fluffy things.

He did say to make myself comfortable. Pulling the blanket around her, she snuggled into it. Leaning her head against the back of the sofa, she shut her eyes. It smelled like him. Tangy, but rich and deep.

Shutting her eyes was a mistake.

She was still half drugged up. She was exhausted. Adrenaline had wrung her out. Even though she desperately wanted answers, her body couldn’t sustain her any longer. She fell asleep.

The next thing she knew, she was moving. She hummed and lifted her head sleepily.

“Ssh…”

Something soft was beneath her. A bed. The thick, fluffy, soft blanket she had taken from the sofa was still wrapped around her. She cuddled into it and shut her eyes again. It was too tempting, and she was too damn exhausted.

A hand stroked over her hair, and lips pressed to her temple. “Get some sleep, princess. You’re safe, I promise you. And I am many terrible things, but I am a man of my word.”

In some strange way…she believed him.

With a yawn, she surrendered to her tiredness and let herself drift away once more.

And for once, visions didn’t plague her.